COVID-19 is circulating again in Hauts-de-France, and is intensifying in the territory according to the latest bulletin published by Santé Publique France. The application of barrier gestures is strongly recommended. A new variant, XEC, is circulating in Europe and could be the cause.
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If you have the feeling that everyone has a cold lately, know that it’s not just an impression. In its latest bulletin, published on September 25, Santé Publique France reports an intensification of the circulation of COVID-19 throughout metropolitan France.
“All indicators for all ages were increasing in town and in hospital; cthis increase being driven by adults and more particularly those aged 65 and over.”
Hauts-de-France is therefore not spared. The Northern department had the most SOS doctor medical procedures for suspected COVID-19 on September 24.
To detect the circulation of the SARS-CoV-2 genome as soon as possible, wastewater is scrupulously analyzed by scientists. “In wastewater, the increase in detection of SARS-CoV-2 continued for the fourth consecutive week” the bulletin continues.
Wearing a mask, regular hand washing… it is therefore strongly recommended to apply barrier gestures, which remain “an effective way to protect yourself from a respiratory infection and its complications and limit the risk of transmission to those around you” explains Public Health France.
For those over 65 and people at risk of developing a serious form of the disease, a new vaccination campaign is planned from October 15, 2024.
Since the start of the school year, a new variant of COVID-19 has been spreading in Europe. Named XEC, it belongs to the Omicron family and has been detected in 27 countries on the continent, including France. For the moment, it is difficult to establish a link between the latter and the increase in COVID cases in France.
“The scientific community is closely monitoring a new variant detected in June 2024 in Berlin, Germany” write our brothers and sisters at Voix du Nord. “This variant called XEC is gaining ground in Europe, alerted Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, regional head of infectious diseases at Kaiser Permanente Southern California.“
Mike Honey, a data specialist based in Australia, has mapped its deployment across Europe since June. XEC”spread quite quickly in Europe, North America and Asia. Around 550 samples have been reported to date, from 27 countries on 3 continents” he wrote on X on September 15.
American cardiologist and geneticist Eric Topol also provided his analysis of this new variant. For him, the XEC variant “could turn out to be the next virus we will have to face.”
